RESEARCH NEWS (29)

Science . It is . It Science Nishida & Nishida : unearthing an : unearthing . Culture (A), SEM (A), . Culture in circumscription. in Schizosaccharomyces Archiascomycetes root (D). Photos courtesy root (D). Photos Pinus seemed somewhat Neolecta and Grelet G-A, TYGrelet A, Lindahl James Menkis BD, (2011) Archaeorhizomycetes class soil fungi. of ubiquitous ancient 333: 876–879. SK (2003) Seasonal of previously dynamics fungal lineages soils. unknown tundra in 301: 1359–1361. The choice of class name is perhaps is name perhaps The choice of class numerous the that is to be anticipated It Rosling A, Cox F, Cruz-Martinez K, Ihrmark K, K, Ihrmark Cruz-Martinez Rosling A, F, Cox Lipson DA, Schmidt AP, Martin Schadt CW, Archaeorhizomyces finlayi Archaeorhizomyces (C), structures micrograph (B), chlamydospore-like on a and growth Rosling. Anna code for variants of a pheromone-receptor of a pheromone-receptor code for variants factors, transcription (PR) and the system process; mating a bisphasic in operating Pneumocystis new is filamentous genus the that notable as previously subphylum. the in anomalous view in of however, unfortunate, somewhat class name the was name Sugiyama 1994. Although that not validly published, also it has been used a synonym and is essentially authors other by of Taphrinomycotina class will the in appear taxa that other beeventually named as they obtained are in taxa naming for procedures or when culture sequences have environmental only known been agreed. 2 yet Soil Group And Clone recognition. formal to receive has

, Neolecta . Modified order order Ascomycota are introduced to introduced are , and family , which includes : a new class for a major clade clade for a major class a new : species in the phylum phylum species the in The new Archaeorhizomyces genus to a filamentous one with hyphae able to hyphae with one to a filamentous identity The sexual tissues. plant the invade is due to particular genomic alleles that accommodate these. The class is diagnosible these. accommodate extremely sequences, and is clearly rRNA by as it belongsancient subphylum to the Taphrinomycotina Archaeorhizomycetales Archaeorhizomycetaeae and for A. finlayi is introduced species. new The unnamed another class Archaeorhizomycetes, on root surfaces, often mixed with other other with mixed often on root surfaces, sexual No fungi, mycorrhizal. is not but found, conidia were or undeniable spores were structures chlamydospore-like but noted. seasonal The have fungus to seems suggest authors may which the tendencies which in it habit of a saprobic be indicative released on carbon by compounds depends summer. the in roots Archaeorhizomyces . (2011). In . (2011). In et al

. (2003) was a huge. (2003) was et al. (2011).

from Rosling from Mating is of key importance to grass importance is of key Mating ) as it initiates fungi (Ustilaginaceae smut a yeast phase from switching by parasitism Inter-specific sex in grass smuts sex in grass Inter-specific Consensus phylogeny showing the position of position the showing phylogeny Consensus Archaeorhizomycetes

The pioneering molecularThe pioneering on Alaskanstudy Schadt et al soils by that claiming to mycologists in surprise fungal major even lineages were in there to known did not correspond soils that many by fungal work groups. Subsequent right their how just shown has researches major seemingly Two brash claims were. soil ascomycetes clades of unnamed be come to have emerge, that repeatedly 1 1 and 2. Group Soil Groups termed Clone especially ubiquitous, most is the boreal in studies 52 from soils, and data and tundra sequences have environmental 162 with been analyzed Rosling by obtained cultures authors the addition, and Sweden, of one species soil in from the in roots Pinus on studied behaviour its pale colonies forms and occurs It laboratory. of soil fungi of soil VOLUME 3 · NO. 1 (30) RESEARCH NEWS

r ƒr†’y‰hvˆ€ Hr yeast translation-terminationyeast prion factor Halfmann epigenetic structures are termed prions. 2000);such self-perpetuating& Lindquist (True change genetic from andpreceding heritablecan be elements in yeasts separate perpetuating in protein changes structure thatIt self- recognized has previously been fascinating system,Kellner December last et In order toinvestigate this complex and ofcompatibleplasmogamy mating partners. growth leading toconjugation, andthen this hyphal involves directed recognition, Prions andphenotypicinheritance inwildyeasts ‘r ‚puy‚hr V otae 1-1 mya 113-117 age: host * B A :bt>91 p’‚q‚‡v† V 0.5 † tvth‡‚†ƒ‚ ˆ€ V†  rvyvhˆ€ T Ustilaginales hyxr v T u‚ qrv V V#€h’qv†  rae RAxML MrBayes otae 38 mya 83-89 age: host 2 1 3 Ustilaginaceae      et al.(2012)investigated the 90-95 <90 >95 h" allele h! allele h allele response pheromone filament hybrid * * 80 * 63 * 0.1 hh†“hƒhpu’qr €h‡v† Hhyh††r“vh 50-80 >80 <50

 hh†“hty‚i‚†h Hhyh††r“vh 71 82 v‡h‡hyv€v‡h‡h 8v‡ hp‡vh † tvth‡‚†ƒ‚ ˆ€ V† 61 * * €h’qv† V ‘r ‚puy‚hr V pv‚ry €ryh‚t h€€h Tpuv“‚ryyh  rvyvhˆ€ T † tvth‡‚†ƒ‚ ˆ€ V†  h r vhpur† Hh u‚ qrv V †ƒ‚ ˆ€ tvth‡‚ V†  rvyvhˆ€ T † †‡hqyr’hˆ€ V† hyxr v T vyyvh€† V h r vhpur† Hh svyvs‚ €v† V hq ‚ƒ‚t‚v† T †pv‡h€vrˆ€ T †ƒr €‚ƒu‚ h V †‡ vvs‚ €v† V ‰r‡v‰r vhr V r‘†r ‡ˆ€ T iˆ †ˆ€ T  rvyvhˆ€ T hyxr v T r ƒr†’y‰hvpˆ€ Hr rh‚hˆ rˆƒu‚ ivhr Hryh‚‡hrvˆ€ p’‚q‚‡v† V €h’qv† V u‚ qrv V were selected for genomic and biological andbiological forgenomic were selected spanning 100Myr ofevolution ofthe system the evolution ofthe system. Ten PR species toilluminatedesigned our understanding of al examined occurrencesexamined andscreenedfornew of strains kept in culture, but these authors The prions considered been anartefact had thatthrough; traits. leadstoavariety ofnew leads toincreasedstops read- in codon self-perpetuatesconfiguration which and of the protein andcanadoptanamyloid Sup35 that isnotessential tothe function ‘r ‚puy‚hr V p‚†htˆvrˆ€ T €v†u hr T . (2011) reported on elegant investigations onelegant . (2011)reported †uyry u’ƒ‚q’‡r† U h“†puryvryyh vv h‡u hp‚vqrv†ƒ‚ ˆ€ T ------C ------Sr 2 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 p†v r h‡uvqv† V ‚p’†‡v† 3 1 1 3 3 2 3 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 2 3 2 3 Ss 1 2 1 3 3 1 (Sr) and mating ofhaploid sporidia of correspond tosubstitutions site. per andbranchlengths values support (bt) bootstrap Numbers andasterisks next tobranchesindicate of complete pheromone sequences. receptor-coding pheromone Maximum receptors. analysis Likelihood 1180, 2005.B,Phylogeny ofmating type-specific referHost toPrasad ages boxes depict different text). phylogenetic clades(see squares represent respective amating Coloured types. or pheromone response (thin Numbers lines). in illustrate hybrid filament formationlines) (bold squares Connected branches. longer indicate to substitutions branches siteand abbreviated per analyses, respectively.ML Branch lengths correspond and values Circles next support bootstrap tobranchesindicate andrpb1. of 2571bpssu, lsu ef1-a rDNA, ITS, Concatenated Maximum analysis (ML) Likelihood interspecific sexual compatibility of Kellner et Interspecificgrass sex smutsin from (modified novel genotypes. the study ofthe hybrid-based of genesis avaluable for as model may serve revealed The authors comment that systemthe now illustratedas in the accompanying figure. same genus, but onesin differentgenera, ofthe species notonly fusions between confirmed by the demonstration ofactual was possibility This host specificities. new leadtosmutsgeneration could which with thatreveals there are possibilities forhybrid system it forwithin-species isoptimized sex, the While linked topheromone signalling. potential species forhybridization between high a interspecific sextests which revealed information performed they onthe alleles, study. In comparative addition todetailed Kellner R, VollmeisterKellner R, Begerow D M, Feldbrügge E, phenotypes. Indeed, 40%ofthe prionsphenotypes. in pressures, that beneficial istodevelop to beneficial the yeasts be under selective demonstrated toconfer characters likely to Modifications of the Sip35prion were one third ofthe wildstrains examined. strains. Prions provedtooccur in about prions in around 700wild system. oftheirgenetic diversity pheromone-receptor (2011) Interspecificgrass sex smutsin and the S. scitamineumS. al a posteriori . 2011).A,Multi-gene phylogeny and PLoS Genetics7:e1002436. probabilities ofBayesian and (Ss); SEM micrograph. (Ss); SEM et al . (Science Sporisorium reilianum Saccharomyces Ustilaginales C, Interspecific IMA FUNGUS 310:1177–

.

RESEARCH NEWS (31) American American is a rather is a rather using microsatellite using in Japan, and used Japan, in 73: 214–223. tinctorum within “individual” lichen thalli. thalli. lichen “individual” within of Botany Journal (2012) Genotypic foliose lichen of the analysis Parmotrema and of mycobiont association markers: modes. reproductive and their photobiont, Lichenologist 44: 419–440. Parmotrema tinctorum Parmotrema support to provides Thisevidence study Pinus thunbergii Pinus (2012) studied populations growing (2012) studied growing populations Larson DW, Carey CK (1986) Phenotypic variation CK variation (1986) Phenotypic Carey Larson DW, T Hogetsu N, B, Matsushita MR, Wu Mansournia common tropical lichen that reproduces reproduces that lichen tropical common et isidia. asexual by mainly Mansornia al. on the to characterize microsatellite markers levels: single within different at partners 10 x and within on single specimens, trees, were Of particular interest quadrats. 10 cm single from which in specimens results the pieces small of tissue. they studied numerous a singlespecimen could that be They found a singleformed from fungal with partner algal changes the in or without partner, partners. or fusion of several independent total 12 fungal genotypesIn and 37 algal genotypes recognized. were in example An five fungal were genotypeswhich and there a single algal genotype here. is illustrated individual trees from specimens Further, close togetheror which tended were to similar genotypes,have suggesting limited site. the dispersal in been has long what suspected, one that looks a single like what that presume cannot a specimenindividual lichen represents single fungal genotype. . 282: 407: Nature or may not have not have or may same the come from and is well- parent, However, documented. all to be had whether of a single genotype was to occur for this first The uncertain. a to suggeststudy that single specimen lichen a have might not just single fungal partner was experimentally of Larson study the (1986) who & Carey single that found of two specimens species Umbilicaria showed variations physiologicalin and parameters isoenzyme profiles. advent the With PCRof DNA technology, and especially of use the microsatellite (SSR) become it has markers, the possible to explore degree of the of issue individuality of single lichen specimens specimens lichen respect to both with fungal the and the algal that populations them. comprise Lancaster AK,Lancaster LindquistS (2012) Prions for phenotypic mehcnisms a common are yeasts. wild Nature in inheritance 363–368. a mechanism for genetic variation provides and phenotypic diversity. 477–478.

120 P6 Tabcde 124 P6 Tabcde 115 P6 Tabcde Yeast colonies, light and tramsmission electron electron colonies, light tramsmission and Yeast micrograph photos of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Halfmann R, Jarosz DF, Jones SK, Jones A, Change DF, R,Halfmann Jarosz HL, Lindquist SL (2000) A yeast prion True coalesce to form a single structure. This is a singlecoalesce to form structure. observed propagules the frequently where asexual sorediaare or isidia, which may 103 P5T3 P5T3c P5T3c 106 123 P4T7d showing the different fungal different the showing . (2012). et al 113 P1T8 102 P3T4

P4T7 108 104 P3T4c

P4T7e 116 Parmotrema tinctorum A single of Parmotrema specimen and algal genotypes PCR Codes prefixed with determined of SSR markers. algal of the T are by and those partner; five fungal of the P are partner, by fungal genotypes and one algal genotype detected particular were this within Mansournia specimen. from Adapted

within one lichen specimen within one lichen of lichens development Observations on the propagulesmultiple reveal field that the in often of a specieson a surface developing Different fungal and algal genotypes demonstrated demonstrated algal genotypes fungal and Different the wild yeasts were beneficial to growth beneficial to were growth wild yeasts the yeasts, tested. In of conditions 12 sets under been now established consequently it has present a naturally are prions that material inheritable of source supplementary in of prions value. The extent of adaptive fungi hasfilamentous as yet to a whole be potential the have assessed, they clearly but to adaptability and fitness. to contribute VOLUME 3 · NO. 1 (32) RESEARCH NEWS

about 60 samples ofdiverse ofsporocarps andavailablein total and both a nitrogen the fibre, acidcomposition, amino analyzed extent ofdigestibility, Wallis isunclear.digestible In order the toascertain indications, the extent are they towhich positive very cangive analyses chemical unclear as while andmuch-debated. is This nutritional has, however, offungi value been their diets tovarious Theactual degrees. mammals, components as eat fungi of ofterrestrialincluding awiderange Humans with along many other animals, Nutritional valueoffungi inanimaldiets strains were from isolated aformer lead- the most stable known. leadmineral The toformon leadmetal chloropyromorphite, Paecilomyces javanicus that Metarhizium fungi, two anisopliae and acid. Now, etal.92012)have Rhee found through the extracellular secretion ofoxalic able toconvert differentminerals to oxalates lichen-forming are known well fungi, tobe androck-inhabitingSoil especially fungi, Fungi thatcantransform lead Geoffrey M. Gadd. Geoffrey Schematic representation ofthe involved processes in leadtransformation Courtesy by fungi. , are abletoactdirectly et al . (2012) in general the mushroomsin general andtruffles tested Tricholoma Hysterangium, Morchella, Rhizopogon Agaricus, Boletus, Cantharellus, Gauteria, were of studied, species offungi genera the digestibility thenAustralia they examined andthe USA; macrofungi from andhypogeous epigeous environmental scanning electron (ESEM) Thepaperwere includes noted. superb also amounts ofsomeother leadcompounds visibly after corroded onemonth, andminor compounds were Theleadshot formed. was in controls without different the fungi, that noted be of X-ray itshould analysis; shot, andexamination methods by two was demonstrated using incubated lead andtheirmining area in activity Scotland, white flesh. Photo flesh. white Jim Grace. holding atruffle in its evidentlypaws, devouring the A northern flying squirrel ( . The results showed that while in vitro the . Amongst Glaucomys sabrinus M. Gadd. from the activities ofMetarhizium anisopliae. Photo Geoffrey courtesy formation mineral onthe leadresulting surface ofmetallic Secondary , and ) further exploration andassessment. lead-contaminatedactual soilsclearly merits in the offungi, bioremediationspecies of and other isolates ofthose andadditional potentialThe of using strains,the tested lead has dangerous toxic on effects humans. paints, pipes, andshot, inks, casings, the deposition ofindustrial wastes, battery lead-contaminated through, forexample, havecould applications. canbecome Soils contribution but tolead biogeochemistry, in the corrosion a andas ofleadmetal a previously unknown step biogenic ofinterestis notonly in demonstrating even inside hyphae. the fungal This finding pyromorphite minute as develops spherules shows thatmicrographs, andamazingly the Rhee YJ, Rhee (2012)Lead Hillier Gadd S, GM Current Biology transformation topyromorphite by fungi. 22:1–5. IMA FUNGUS

RESEARCH NEWS (33) Journal of Journal Societyof London, 38: 1191–1198. species preserved on , 278: 3482–3489. Archaeobotanical evidence for a massive for a massive Archaeobotanical evidence during species of epiphyte richness loss England. southern in industrialisation Royal of the Proceedings Biological Science, B asepiphytes archaeological an in resource buildings.post-medieval vernacular Science Archaeological Nitrogen content, amino acid composition acid composition amino content, Nitrogen and digestibility of fungi a nutritional from Fungal mycophagy. animal in perspective Biology 116: 590–602. A specimen of a Physconia A specimen courtesy Photo of a 400 year-old timber. bark the Ellis. J. Christopher Wallis IR, Claridge AW, Trappe JM (2012) Trappe IR, Claridge AW, Wallis Ellis CJ, Yahr R, BJ Coppins (2011) Yahr Ellis CJ, R, Ellis CJ BJ, (2011) Preserved Coppins Yahr hardly be taken as representative but, after after but, as representative be taken hardly different meals with consuming repeatedly over component major as the mushrooms several weeks 15 years ago, about I I found shedhad quite a few pounds. century onwards, a onwards, century th . 2011). This study has demonstrated has demonstrated . 2011). Thisstudy Information related to changes over Information Based on material kindly supplied by Christopher supplied Christopher Based by kindly on material Ellis. J. period where industrialization was already industrialization period where of to become much in starting widespread Britain. lowland accuracy, can be accrued,time to ensure but necessaryit was accurate the to consider (based timbers the of on styles of dating within re-use carpentry), possible timber buildings, local networks. and the transport the increasing to focus on The plans group available data data, using of the resolution and also dendrochronology. wattles, from in undertaken is being work The archaeologists with collaboration at College London. University of high-quality Australia, protein. In foregut of mycophagy, combination the explain may and coevolution fermentation, obligate which are marsupials potororine the is suggested It mycophagists. or preferential of hypogeous use their fungi enables that effects of destructive to survive the them hypogeousthe as fires fungi tend devastating authors, The aftermath. the in to remain of issue largely the avoid tactfully, perhaps dietarythe value of fungal the sporocarps in can diet . A single . . . experience human suggest diversity of epiphyte an 80 % loss England as areas such from (Ellis south-east et al newan intriguing tool for environmental of re- potential the with reconstruction, evaluating environmental and conservation as base-lines. Thisinterest is of particular and knowledge literature the from current preserved biased is necessarily specimens mid-18 the towards et

th

This proved to be the case, and Yahr Yahr This the case, proved to be and

. (2011) discovered 87 epiphytic lichen lichen 87 epiphytic . (2011) discovered Archaeolichenology: a novel use of lichens a novel use of Archaeolichenology: were a reasonable source of amino acids of source a reasonable were large were and digestible nitrogen, there betweenspecies,the protein differences and a poorhad balancedigestible of amino acids. why this explains that consider authors The mycophagous primarily are that mammals a wide range to eat tend of sporocarps, developed some casesand in have foregut- available to maximise the fermentation they addition, note that value. In nutritional supplement mammals mycophagous many which a source insects are diets with their al species a survey in of 78 buildings dating southern period 1300-1750 across the from England. tended The material best-preserved of low- roof-spaces the in to be found occupancy, continuous homes with status not so dissimilar to are conditions where the of Many today. herbaria of many those outside from records are pre-industrial range, and estimates current species’ the century. The rationale is that epiphytic lichens lichens epiphytic that is The rationale century. and of trees, surface outer-bark on the grow harvestedtrees and used as frame for pre- the to have buildings not likely industrial were been they transported were where far from on the occurs bark where used. Consequently, buildings, of pre-industrial structures timber it might be preserved possible to find lichens suggest past of both which may something and local ecologies.distributions A novel application of lichens has just been just has of lichens application A novel developed Royal lichenologists the by at Edinburgh. These are Garden Botanic regionalbeing species’ used to reconstruct types, habitat and so indicate distributions, industrial to the period prior historic for the mid-18 started the in that revolution VOLUME 3 · NO. 1